1Hwan Grim him hauede faste bounden,
2And siþen in an eld cloth wnden,
3THE FOLLOWING LINE SUPPLIED FROM CAMBRIDGE FRAGMENTS
4He þriste in his muth wel faste
5A keuel of clutes ful unwraste,
6Þat he mouthe speke ne fnaste
7Hwere he wolde him bere or lede.
8Hwan he hauede don þat dede,
9Hwan þe swike him hauede heþede
10Þat he shulde him forth lede
11And him drinchen in þe se -
12Þat forwarde makeden he -
13Jn a poke ful and blac
14Sone he caste him on his bac,
15Ant bar him hom to hise cleue,
16And bitaucte him dame Leue,

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17And seyde 'Wite þou þis knaue,
18Al so thou wilt mi lif haue saue !
19J shal dreinchen him in þe se:
20For him shole we ben maked fre,
21Gold hauen ynou and oþer fe -
22Þat hauet mi louerd bihoten me.'

24Hwan dame Leue herde þat,
25Vp she stirte and nouth ne sat,
26And caste þe knaue so harde adoun
27Þat he crakede þer his croune
28Ageyn a gret ston þer it lay.
29Þo Hauelok micte sei 'Weilawei
30Þat euere was I kinges bern -
31Þat him ne hauede grip or ern,
32Leoun or wlf, wluine or bere,
33Or oþer best þat wolde him dere!'
34So lay þat child to middel-nicth,
35Þat Grim bad Leue bringen lict
36For to don on his cloþes:
37'Ne thenkeste nowt of mine oþes
38Þat Ich haue mi louerd sworen?
39Ne wile I nouth be forloren:
40J shal beren him to þe se -
41Þou wost þat bihoues me -
42And I shal drenchen him þer-inne.
43Ris up swiþe an go þu binne,
44And blou þe fir and lith a kandel.'
45Als she shulde hise cloþes handel
46On for to don, and blawe þe fir,
47She saw þer-inne a lith ful shir,
48Al so brith so it were day,
49Aboute þe knaue þer he lay.
50Of hise mouth it stod a stem
51Als it were a sunne-bem;
52Al so lith was it þer-inne
53So þer brenden cerges inne.

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54'Jesu Crist!' wat dame Leue,
55'Hwat is þat lith in vre cleue?
56Ris up, Grim, and loke wat it menes!
57Hwat is þe lith, as þou wenes?'
58He stirten boþe up to þe knaue
59(For man shal god wille haue),
60Vnkeueleden him and swiþe unbounden,
61And sone anon upon him funden,
62Als he tirueden of his serk,
63On hise rith shuldre a kynemerk -
64A swiþe brith, a swiþe fair.
65'Goddot!' quath Grim 'þis ure eir,
66Þat shal ben louerd of Denemark!
67He shal ben king strong and stark -
68He shal hauen in his hand
69Al Denemark and Engeland.
70He shal do Godard ful wo -
71He shal him hangen or quik flo,
72Or he shal him al quic graue.
73Of him shal he no merci haue.'
74Þus seide Grim, and sore gret,
75And sone fel him to þe fet,
76And seide 'Louerd, haue merci
77Of me and Leue, þat is me bi!
78Louerd, we aren boþe þine -
79Þine cherles, þine hine.
80Lowerd, we sholen þe wel fede
81Til þat þu cone riden on stede,
82Til þat þu cone ful wel bere
83Helm on heued, sheld and spere.
84He ne shal neuere wite, sikerlike
85(Godard, þat fule swike).
86Þoru oþer man, louerd, than þoru þe
87Shal I neuere freman be.
88Þou shalt me, louerd, freman maken,
89For I shal yemen þe and waken -
90Þoru þe wile I fredom haue.'
91Þo was Haueloc a bliþe knaue!

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92He sat him up and crauede bred,
93And seide 'Ich am ney ded,
94Hwat for hunger, wat for bondes,
95Þat þu leidest on min hondes,
96And for þe keuel at þe laste,
97Þat in my mouth was þrist faste.
98Y was þer-with so harde prangled
99Þat I was þer-with ney strangled!'
100'Wel is me þat þu mayth hete!
101Goddoth,' quath Leue 'Y shal þe fete
102Bred an chese, butere and milk,
103Pastees and flaunes - al with suilk
104Shole we sone þe wel fede,
105Louerd, in þis mikel nede.'
106Soth it is þat men seyt and suereth:
107Þer God wile helpen nouth ne dereth.

109Þanne sho hauede brouth þe mete,
110Haueloc anon bigan to ete
111Grundlike, and was ful bliþe.
112Couþe he nouth his hunger miþe -
113A lof he het, Y woth, and more,
114For him hungrede swiþe sore.
115Þre dayes þer-biforn, I wene,
116Et he no mete - þat was wel sene!
117Hwan he hauede eten and was fed,
118Grim dede maken a ful fayr bed,
119Vncloþede him, and dede him þer-inne,
120And seyde 'Slep, sone, with muchel winne!
121Slep wel faste and dred þe nouth -
122Fro sorwe to ioie art þu brouth!'
123Sone so it was lith of day,
124Grim it undertok þe wey
125To þe wicke traitour Godard
126Þat was of Denemark stiward,
127And seyde 'Louerd, don Ich haue
128Þat þou me bede of þe knaue:
129He is drenched in þe flod,
130Abouten his hals an anker god -

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131He is witerlike ded.
132Eteth he neueremore bred:
133He liþ drenched in þe se.
134Yif me gold and oþer fe,
135Þat Y mowe riche be,
136And with þi chartre make fre;
137For þu ful wel bihetet me
138Þanne I last spak with þe!'
139Godard stod and lokede on him
140Þoruthlike, with eyne grim,
141And seyde 'Wiltu ben erl?
142Go hom swiþe, fule drit-cherl!
143Go heþen, and be eueremore
144Þral and cherl als þou er wore -
145Shaltu haue non oþer mede.
146For litel I do þe lede
147To þe galues, so God me rede!
148For þou haues don a wicke dede.
149Þou mait stonden her to longe,
150Bute þou swiþe eþen gonge!'

152Grim þoucte to late þat he ran
153Fro þat traytour, þat wicke man,
154And þoucte 'Wat shal me to raþe ?
155Wite he him on liue he wile us baþe
156Heye hangen on galwe-tre.
157Betere us is of londe to fle
158And berwen boþen ure liues,
159And mine children and mine wiues.'
160Grim solde sone al his corn,
161Shep wit wolle, neth wit horn,
162Hors and swin, geet wit berd,
163Þe gees, þe hennes of þe yerd -
164Al he solde þat outh douthe,
165Þat he eure selle moucte,
166And al he to þe peni drou.
167Hise ship he greyþede wel inow:
168He dede it tere an ful wel pike

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169Þat it ne doutede sond ne krike,
170Þer-inne dide a ful god mast,
171Stronge kables and ful fast,
172Ores gode an ful god seyl -
173Þer-inne wantede nouth a nayl
174Þat euere he sholde þer-inne do.
175Hwan he hauedet greyþed so,
176Hauelok þe yunge he dede þer-inne,
177Him and his wif, hise sones þrinne,
178And hise two doutres þat faire wore.
179And sone dede he leyn in an ore,
180And drou him to þe heye se
181Þere he mith alþerbest fle.
182Fro londe woren he bote a mile,
183Ne were neuere but ane hwile
184Þat it ne bigan a wind to rise
185Out of þe north men calleth 'bise',
186And drof hem intil Engelond,
187Þat al was siþen in his hond,
188His þat Hauelok was þe name.
189But or he hauede michel shame,
190Michel sorwe and michel tene,
191And þrie he gat it al bidene,
192Als ye shulen nou forthward here,
193Yf that ye wilen þer-to here.

195In Humber Grim bigan to lende,
196Jn Lindeseye rith at þe north ende.
197Þer sat is ship upon þe sond;
198But Grim it drou up to þe lond,
199And þere he made a litel cote
200To him and to hise flote.
201Bigan he, þere for to erþe,
202A litel hus to maken of erþe,
203So þat he wel þore were
204Of here herboru herborwed þere.
205And for þat Grim þat place aute
206Þe stede of Grim þe name laute,
207So þat Grimesbi it calle
208Þat þer-offe speken alle;

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209And so shulen men callen it ay,
210Bituene þis and Domesday.

212Grim was fishere swiþe god
213And mikel couþe on þe flod -
214Mani god fish þer-inne he tok,
215Boþe with neth and with hok.
216He tok þe sturgiun and þe qual,
217And þe turbut and lax withal;
218He tok þe sele and þe hwel -
219He spedde ofte swiþe wel.
220Keling he tok, and tumberel,
221Hering and þe makerel,
222Þe butte, þe schulle, þe þornebake.
223Gode paniers dede he make,
224On til him, and oþer þrinne
225Til hise sones, to beren fishe inne,
226Vp o londe to selle and fonge -
227Forbar he neyþer tun ne gronge
228Þat he ne to-yede with his ware.
229Kam he neuere hom hand-bare,
230Þat he ne broucte bred and sowel
231Jn his shirte or in his couel,
232Jn his poke benes and korn -
233Hise swink ne hauede he nowt forlorn.
234And hwan he tok þe grete laumprei,
235Ful wel he couþe þe rithe wei
236To Lincolne, þe gode boru;
237Ofte he yede it þoru and þoru,
238Til he hauede wol wel sold
239And þer-fore þe penies told.
240Þanne he com þenne he were bliþe,
241For hom he brouthe fele siþe
242Wastels, simenels with þe horn,
243Hise pokes fulle of mele an korn,
244Netes flesh, shepes and swines,
245And hemp to maken of gode lines,
246And stronge ropes to hise netes -
247Jn þe se-weres he ofte setes.

249Þus-gate Grim him fayre ledde:
250Him and his genge wel he fedde
251Wel twelf winter oþer more.
252Hauelok was war þat Grim swank sore
253For his mete, and he lay at hom -
254Þhouthe 'Ich am nou no grom!
255Jch am wel waxen, and wel may eten
256More þan euere Grim may geten.
257Jch ete more, bi God on liue,
258Þan Grim an hise children fiue!
259Jt ne may nouth ben þus longe.
260Goddot, Y wile with þem gange
261For to leren sum god to gete.
262Swinken Ich wolde for mi mete -
263Jt is no shame for to swinken!
264Þe man þat may wel eten and drinken
265Þat nouth ne haue but on swink long -
266To liggen at hom it is ful strong.
267God yelde him, þer I ne may,
268Þat haueth me fed to þis day!
269Gladlike I wile þe paniers bere -
270Jch woth ne shal it me nouth dere,
271Þey þer be inne a birþene gret
272Al so heui als a neth.
273Shal Ich neuere lengere dwelle -
274Tomorwen shal Ich forth pelle.'

276On þe morwen, hwan it was day,
277He stirt up sone and nouth ne lay,
278And cast a panier on his bac
279With fish giueled als a stac.
280Al so michel he bar him one,
281So he foure, bi mine mone!
282Wel he it bar and solde it wel;
283Þe siluer he brouthe hom il del,
284Al þat he þer-fore tok -
285With-held he nouth a ferþinges nok.
286So yede he forth ilke day
287Þat he neuere at home lay -
288So wolde he his mester lere.

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289Bifel it so a strong dere
290Bigan to rise of korn of bred,
291That Grim ne couþe no god red
292Hw he sholde his meine fede.
293Of Hauelok hauede he michel drede,
294For he was strong and wel mouthe ete
295More þanne heuere mouthe be gete;
296Ne he ne mouthe on þe se take
297Neyþer lenge ne þornbake,
298Ne non oþer fish þat douthe
299His meyne feden with he mouthe.
300Of Hauelok he hauede kare,
301Hwil-gat þat he micthe fare;
302Of his children was him nouth -
303On Hauelok was al hise þouth,
304And seyde 'Hauelok, dere sone,
305J wene that we deye mone
306For hunger: þis dere is so strong,
307And hure mete is uten long.
308Betere is þat þu henne gonge
309Þan þu here dwelle longe -
310Heþen þou mayt gangen to late.
311Þou canst ful wel þe ricthe gate
312To Lincolne, þe gode borw -
313Þou hauest it gon ful ofte þoru.
314Of me ne is me nouth a slo.
315Betere is þat þu þider go,
316For þer is mani god man inne:
317Þer þou mayt þi mete winne.
318But wo is me þou art so naked:
319Of mi seyl Y wolde þe were maked
320A cloth þou mithest inne gongen,
321Sone, no cold þat þu ne fonge.'

323He tok þe sheres of þe nayl
324And made him a couel of þe sayl,
325And Hauelok dide it sone on.
326Hauede neyþer hosen ne shon,
327Ne none kines oþer wede:
328To Lincolne barfot he yede.

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329Hwan he kam þer he was ful wil -
330Ne hauede he no frend to gangen til.
331Two dayes þer fastinde he yede,
332Þan non for his werk wolde him fede.
333Þe þridde day herde he calle:
334'Bermen, bermen, hider forth alle!'
335NO GAP IN MS . . . . . . . .
336Sprongen forth so sparke on glede.
337Hauelok shof dun nyne or ten
338Rith amidewarde þe fen,
339And stirte forth to þe kok
340NO GAP IN MS . . . . . . . .
341Þat he bouthe at þe brigge.
342Þe bermen let he alle ligge,
343And bar þe mete to þe castel,
344And gat him þere a ferþing wastel.

346Þet oþer day kepte he ok
347Swiþe yerne þe erles kok,
348Til þat he say him on þe brigge,
349And bi him mani fishes ligge.
350Þe herles mete hauede he bouth
351Of Cornwalie, and kalde oft:
352'Bermen, bermen, hider swiþe!'
353Hauelok it herde, and was ful bliþe
354Þat he herde 'Bermen!' calle:
355Alle made he hem dun-falle
356Þat in his gate yeden and stode -
357Wel sixtene laddes gode.
358Als he lep þe kok til,
359He shof hem alle upon an hyl -
360Astirte til him with his rippe
361And bigan þe fish to kippe.
362He bar up wel a carte-lode
363Of segges, laxes, of playces brode,
364Of grete laumprees, and of eles.
365Sparede he neyþer tos ne heles
366Til þat he to þe castel cam,
367Þat men fro him his birþene nam.

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368Þan men haueden holpen him doun
369With þe birþene of his croun,
370Þe kok stod and on him low,
371And þoute him stalworþe man ynow,
372And seyde 'Wiltu ben wit me?
373Gladlike wile Ich feden þe.
374Wel is set þe mete þu etes,
375And þe hire þat þu getes!'

377'Goddot!' quoth he 'leue sire,
378Bidde Ich you non oþer hire,
379But yeueþ me inow to ete -
380Fir and water Y wile you fete,
381Þe fir blowe an ful wel maken.
382Stickes kan Ich breken and kraken,
383And kindlen ful wel a fyr,
384And maken it to brennen shir.
385Ful wel kan Ich cleuen shides,
386Eles to-turuen of here hides;
387Ful wel kan Ich dishes swilen,
388And don al þat ye euere wilen.'
389Quoth þe kok 'Wile I no more!
390Go þu yunder and sit þore,
391And Y shal yeue þe ful fair bred,
392And make þe broys in þe led.
393Sit now doun and et ful yerne -
394Daþeit hwo þe mete werne!'

396Hauelok sette him dun anon
397Al so stille als a ston,
398Til he hauede ful wel eten;
399Þo hauede Hauelok fayre geten!
400Huan he hauede eten inow,
401He kam to þe welle, water up-drow,
402And filde þer a michel so -
403Bad he non ageyn him go,
404But bitwen his hondes he bar it in,
405Al him one, to þe kichin.

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406Bad he non him water to fett,
407Ne fro brigge to bere þe mete.
408He bar þe turues, he bar þe star,
409Þe wode fro þe brigge he bar,
410Al þat euere shulden he nytte
411Al he drow and al he citte -
412Wolde he neuere hauen rest
413More þan he were a best.
414Of alle men was he mest meke,
415Lauhwinde ay and bliþe of speke.
416Euere he was glad and bliþe -
417His sorwe he couþe ful wel miþe.

418Godrich þe erl was swiþe wroth
419Þat she swor swilk an oth,
420And seyde 'Hwor þou wilt be
421Quen and leuedi ouer me?
422Þou shalt hauen a gadeling -
423Ne shalt þou hauen non oþer king!
424Þe shal spusen mi cokes knaue -
425Ne shalt þou non oþer louerd haue.
426Daþeit þat þe oþer yeue
427Eueremore hwil I liue!
428Tomorwe ye sholen ben weddeth,

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429And maugre þin togidere beddeth.'
430Goldeborw gret and yaf hire ille;
431She wolde ben ded, bi hire wille.
432On þe morwen, hwan day was sprungen,
433And day-belle at kirke rungen,
434After Hauelok sente þat Iudas
435Þat werse was þanne Sathanas,
436And seyde 'Mayster, wilte wif?'
437'Nay!' quoth Hauelok, 'bi my lif!
438Hwat sholde Ich with wif do?
439J ne may hire fede ne cloþe ne sho.
440Wider sholde Ich wimman bringe?
441J ne haue none kines þinge -
442J ne haue hws, Y ne haue cote,
443Ne I ne haue stikke, Y ne haue sprote,
444I ne haue neyþer bred ne sowel,
445Ne cloth but of an hold with couel.
446Þis cloþes þat Ich onne-haue
447Aren þe kokes and Ich his knaue!'
448Godrich stirt up and on him dong,
449NO GAP IN MS . . . . . . . .
450And seyde 'But þou hire take
451Þat Y wole yeuen þe to make,
452J shal hangen þe ful heye,
453Or Y shal þristen vth þin heie!'
454Hauelok was one and was odrat,
455And grauntede him al þat he bad.
456Þo sende he after hire sone,
457Þe fayrest wymman under mone,
458And seyde til hire, fel and slike
459(Þat wicke þral, þat foule swike):
460But þu þis man understonde
461J shal flemen þe of londe,
462Or þou shal to þe galwes renne,
463And þer þou shalt in a fir brenne!'
464Sho was adrad for he so þrette,
465And durste nouth þe spusing lette,
466But þey hire likede swiþe ille,
467Þouthe it was Godes wille -

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468God þat makes growen þe korn,
469Formede hire wimman to be born.
470Hwan he hauede don him, for drede,
471Þat he sholde hire spusen and fede,
472And þat she sholde til him holde,
473Þer weren penies þicke tolde
474Mikel plente upon þe bok -
475He ys hire yaf, and she as tok.
476He weren spused fayre and wel:
477Þe messe he dede, eueri del
478Þat fel to spusing, an god clerk -
479Þe erchebishop uth of Yerk,
480Þat kam to þe parlement,
481Als God him hauede þider sent.

483Hwan he weren togydere in Godes lawe,
484Þat þe folc ful wel it sawe,
485He ne wisten hwat he mouthen
486Ne he ne wisten wat hem douthe -
487Þer to dwellen or þenne to gonge.
488Þer ne wolden he dwellen longe,
489For he wisten and ful wel sawe
490Þat Godrich hem hatede - þe deuel him hawe!
491And yf he dwelleden þer outh -
492Þat fel Hauelok ful wel on þouth -
493Men sholde don his leman shame,
494Or elles bringen in wicke blame,
495Þat were him leuere to ben ded.
496Forþi he token anoþer red,
497Þat þei sholden þenne fle
498Til Grim, and til hise sones þre -
499Þer wenden he alþerbest to spede,
500Hem for to cloþe and for to fede.
501Þe lond he token under fote -
502Ne wisten he non oþer bote -
503And helden ay þe rith sti
504Til he komen to Grimesby.
505Þanne he komen þere tanne was Grim ded -
506Of him ne haueden he no red.

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507But hise children alle fyue
508Alle weren yet on liue,
509Þat ful fayre ayen hem neme
510Hwan he wisten þat he keme,
511And maden ioie swiþe mikel -
512Ne weren he neuere ayen hem fikel.
513On knes ful fayre he hem setten
514And Hauelok swiþe fayre gretten,
515And seyden 'Welkome, louerd dere,
516And welkome be þi fayre fere!
517Blessed be þat ilke þrawe
518Þat þou hire toke in Godes lawe!
519Wel is hus we sen þe on lyue.
520Þou mithe us boþe selle and yeue;
521Þou mayt us boþe yeue and selle,
522With þat þou wilt here dwelle.
523We hauen, louerd, alle gode -
524Hors, and neth, and ship on flode,
525Gold, and siluer, and michel auchte,
526Þat Grim ure fader us bitawchte.
527Gold and siluer and oþer fe
528Bad he us bitaken þe.
529We hauen shep, we hauen swin;
530Bileue her, louerd, and al be þin!
531Þou shalt ben louerd, þou shalt ben syre
532And we sholen seruen þe and hire.
533And hure sistres sholen do
534Al þat euere biddes sho:
535He sholen hire cloþen washen and wringen,
536And to hondes water bringen:
537He sholen bedden hire and þe,
538For leuedi wile we þat she be.'
539Hwan he þis ioie haueden maked,
540Sithen stikes broken and kraked,
541And þe fir brouth on brenne,
542Ne was þer spared gos ne henne,
543Ne þe hende ne þe drake.
544Mete he deden plente make -
545Ne wantede þere no god mete.
546Wyn and ale deden he fete

page 39

547And made hem glade and bliþe;
548Wesseyl ledden he fele siþe.

550On þe nith als Goldeborw lay,
551Sory and sorwful was she ay,
552For she wende she were biswike,
553Þat she were yeuen unkyndelike.
554O nith saw she þer-inne a lith,
555A swiþe fayr, a swiþe bryth -
556Al so brith, al so shir,
557So it were a blase of fir.
558She lokede norþ and ek south,
559And saw it comen ut of his mouth
560Þat lay bi hire in þe bed.
561No ferlike þou she were adred!
562Þouthe she 'Wat may þis bimene!
563He beth heyman yet, als Y wene -
564He beth heyman er he be ded!'
565On hise shuldre, of gold red,
566She saw a swiþe noble croiz.
567Of an angel she herde a uoyz:

569'Goldeborw, lat þi sorwe be!
570For Hauelok, þat haueþ spuset þe,
571He is kinges sone and kinges eyr -
572Þat bikenneth þat croiz so fayr.
573Jt bikenneth more - þat he shal
574Denemark hauen and Englond al.
575He shal ben king strong and stark
576Of Engelond and Denemark -
577Þat shal þu wit þin eyne sen,
578And þou shalt quen and leuedi ben.'

580Þanne she hauede herd the steuene
581Of þe angel uth of heuene,
582She was so fele siþes bliþe
583Þat she ne mithe hire ioie mythe,
584But Hauelok sone anon she kiste,
585And he slep and nouth ne wiste

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586Hwat þat aungel hauede seyd.
587Of his slep anon he brayd,
588And seide, 'Lemman, slepes þou?
589A selkuth drem dremede me nou -

591Herkne nou hwat me haueth met.
592Me þouthe Y was in Denemark set,
593But on on þe moste hil
594Þat euere yete kam I til.
595Jt was so hey þat Y wel mouthe
596Al þe werd se, als me þouthe.
597Als I sat up-on þat lowe
598J bigan Denemark for to awe,
599Þe borwes and þe castles stronge;
600And mine armes weren so longe
601That I fadmede al at ones
602Denemark with mine longe bones.
603And þanne Y wolde mine armes drawe
604Til me and hom for to haue,
605Al þat euere in Denemark liueden
606On mine armes faste clyueden,
607And þe stronge castles alle
608On knes bigunnen for to falle -
609Þe keyes fellen at mine fet.
610Anoþer drem dremede me ek
611Þat Ich fley ouer þe salte se
612Til Engeland, and al with me
613Þat euere was in Denemark lyues
614But bondemen and here wiues,
615And þat Ich kom til Engelond -
616Al closede it intil min hond,
617And, Goldeborw, Y gaf it þe.
618Deus, lemman! hwat may þis be?'
619Sho answerede and seyde sone
620'Jesu Crist, þat made mone,
621Þine dremes turne to ioye...
622NO GAP IN MS
623Þat wite þw þat sittes in trone!
624Ne non strong king ne caysere
625So þou shalt be, for þou shalt bere

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626Jn Engelond corune yet.
627Denemark shal knele to þi fete;
628Alle þe castles þat aren þer-inne
629Shaltow, lemman, ful wel winne -
630J woth so wel so Ich it sowe.
631To þe shole comen heye and lowe,
632And alle þat in Denemark wone -
633Em and broþer, fader and sone,
634Erl and baroun, dreng and þayn,
635Knithes and burgeys and sweyn -
636And bes mad king heyelike and wel.
637Denemark shal be þin euere-ilc del -
638Haue þou nouth þer-offe douthe,
639Nouth þe worth of one nouthe!
640Þer-offe with-inne þe firste yer
641Shalt þou ben king of euere-il del.
642But do nou als Y wile rathe:
643Nim in wit liþe to Denemark baþe,
644And do þou nouth on frest þis fare -
645Lith and selthe felawes are -
646For shal Ich neuere bliþe be
647Til I with eyen Denemark se,
648For Ich woth þat al þe lond
649Shalt þou hauen in þin hond .
650Prey Grimes sones alle þre
651That he wenden forþ with þe;
652J wot he wilen þe nouth werne -
653With þe wende shulen he yerne,
654For he louen þe hertelike.
655Þou maght tel he aren quike,
656Hwore-so he o worde aren;
657Þere ship þou do hem swiþe yaren,
658And loke þat þou dwelle nouth -
659Dwelling haueth ofte scaþe wrouth!

660Hwan it was comen time to ete,
661Hise wif dede Ubbe sone in fete,
662And til hire seyde al on gamen:
663'Dame, þou and Hauelok shulen ete samen,
664And Goldeboru shal ete wit me
665Þat is so fayr so flour on tre -

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666Jn al Denemark nis wimman
667So fayr so sche, bi Seint Iohan.'
668Þanne he were set and bord leyd,
669And þe beneysun was seyd,
670Biforn hem com þe beste mete
671Þat king or cayser wolde ete:
672Kranes, swannes, ueneysun,
673Lax, lampreys, and god sturgun,
674Pyment to drinke and god clare,
675Win hwit and red, ful god plente -
676Was þer-inne no page so lite
677Þat euere wolde ale bite.
678Of þe mete for to telle
679Ne of þe win bidde I nout dwelle;
680Þat is þe storie for to lenge -
681Jt wolde anuye þis fayre genge.
682But hwan he haueden þe kilþing deyled,
683And fele siþes haueden wosseyled,
684And with gode drinkes seten longe,
685And it was time for to gonge
686Jl man to þer he cam fro,
687Þouthe Ubbe 'Yf I late hem go
688Þus one foure, withuten mo,
689So mote Ich brouke finger or to,
690For þis wimman bes mike wo!
691For hire shal men hire louerd slo.'
692He tok sone knithes ten,
693And wel sixti oþer men
694Wit gode bowes and with gleiues,
695And sende him unto þe greyues -
696Þe beste man of al þe toun,
697Þat was named Bernard Brun -
698And bad him als he louede his lif
699Hauelok wel yemen and his wif,
700And wel do wayten al þe nith
701Til þe oþer day þat it were lith.
702Bernard was trewe and swiþe with -
703Jn al þe borw ne was no knith
704Þat betere couþe on stede riden,

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705Helm on heued ne swerd bi side.
706Hauelok he gladlike understod
707With mike loue and herte god,
708And dide greyþe a super riche
709(Al so he was no-with chiche)
710To his bihoue eueril del,
711Þat he mithe supe swiþe wel.

713Al so he seten and sholde soupe,
714So comes a ladde in a ioupe,
715And with him sixti oþer stronge,
716With swerdes drawen and kniues longe,
717Jlkan in hande a ful god gleiue,
718And seyde 'Undo, Bernard þe greyue!
719Vndo swiþe and lat us in,
720Or þu art ded, bi Seint Austin!'
721Bernard stirt up, þat was ful big,
722And caste a brinie upon his rig,
723And grop an ax þat was ful god -
724Lep to þe dore so he wore wod,
725And seyde 'Hwat are ye þat are þer-oute,
726Þat þus biginnen for to stroute?
727Goth henne swiþe, fule þeues!
728For bi þe Louerd þat man on leues,
729Shol Ich casten þe dore open,
730Summe of you shal Ich drepen,
731And þe oþre shal Ich kesten
732Jn feteres and ful faste festen!'
733'Hwat haue ye seid?' quoth a ladde,
734'Wenestu þat we ben adradde?
735We shole at þis dore gonge
736Maugre þin, carl, or outh longe!'
737He gripen sone a bulder-ston,
738And let it fleye, ful god won,
739Agen þe dore, þat it to-rof.
740Auelok it saw, and þider drof,
741And þe barre sone vt-drow,
742Þat was unride and gret ynow,
743And caste þe dore open wide

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744And seide 'Her shal Y now abide!
745Comes swiþe vnto me -
746Daþeyt hwo you henne fle!'
747'No,' quodh on, 'þat shaltou coupe!'
748And bigan til him to loupe,
749Jn his hond his swerd ut-drawe,
750(Hauelok he wende þore haue slawe),
751And with him comen oþer two
752Þat him wolde of liue haue do.
753Hauelok lifte up þe dore-tre,
754And at a dint he slow hem þre:
755Was non of hem þat hise hernes
756Ne lay þer ute ageyn þe sternes.
757Þe ferþe, þat he siþen mette,
758Wit þe barre so he him grette
759Bifor þe heued þat þe rith eye
760Vt of þe hole made he fleye,
761And siþe clapte him on þe crune
762So þat he stan-ded fel þor dune.
763Þe fifte þat he ouertok
764Gaf he a ful sor dint ok
765Bitwen þe sholdres þer he stod,
766Þat he speu his herte-blod.
767Þe sixte wende for to fle,
768And he clapte him with þe tre
769Rith in þe fule necke so
770Þat he smot hise necke on to.
771Þanne þe sixe weren doun-feld,
772Þe seuenþe brayd ut his swerd,
773And wolde Hauelok riht in the eye;
774And Hauelok let þe barre fleye
775And smot him sone ageyn þe brest,
776Þat hauede ne neuere schrifte of prest
777(For he was ded on lesse hwile
778Þan men mouthe renne a mile).
779Alle þe oþere weren ful kene:
780A red þei taken hem bitwene
781Þat he sholde him bihalue,

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782And brisen so þat wit no salue
783Ne sholde him helen leche non.
784Þey drowen ut swerdes, ful god won,
785And shoten on him so don on bere
786Dogges þat wolden him to-tere,
787Þanne men doth þe bere beyte.
788Þe laddes were kaske and teyte
789And vmbiyeden him ilkon:
790Sum smot with tre, and sum wit ston,
791Summe putten with gleyue in bac and side
792And yeuen wundes longe and wide
793Jn twenti stedes, and wel mo,
794Fro þe croune til the to.
795Hwan he saw þat, he was wod,
796And was it ferlik hw he stod!
797For þe blod ran of his sides
798So water þat fro þe welle glides.
799But þanne bigan he for to mowe
800With þe barre, and let hem shawe
801Hw he cowþe sore smite;
802For was þer non, long ne lite,
803Þat he mouthe ouertake,
804Þat he ne garte his croune krake,
805So þat on a litel stund
806Felde he twenti to þe grund.

808Þo bigan gret dine to rise,
809For þe laddes on ilke wise
810Him asayleden wit grete dintes.
811Fro fer he stonden him with flintes,
812And gleyues schoten him fro ferne,
813For drepen him he wolden yerne;
814But dursten he newhen him nomore
815Þanne he bor or leun wore.

817Huwe Rauen þat dine herde,
818And þowthe wel, þat men misferde
819With his louerd for his wif,
820And grop an ore, and a long knif,

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821And þider drof al so an hert,
822And cham þer on a litel stert,
823And saw how þe laddes wode
824Hauelok his louerd umbistode,
825And beten on him so doth þe smith
826With þe hamer on þe stith.

828'Allas' hwat Hwe 'þat Y was boren!
829Þat euere et Ich bred of koren!
830Þat Ich here þis sorwe se!
831Roberd, WilliamWillam, hware ar ye?
832Gripeth eþer unker a god tre,
833And late we nouth þise doges fle
834Til ure louerd wreke be !
835Cometh swiþe, and folwes me:
836Jch haue in honde a ful god ore -
837Daþeit wo ne smite sore!'
838'Ya, leue, ya!' quod Roberd sone,
839'We hauen ful god lith of þe mone.'
840Roberd grop a staf strong and gret
841Þat mouthe ful wel bere a net,
842And Willam Wendut grop a tre
843Mikel grettere þan his þre,
844And Bernard held his ax ful faste
845(J seye, was he nouth þe laste!)
846And lopen forth so he weren wode
847To þe laddes þer he stode,
848And yaf hem wundes swiþe grete.
849Þer mithe men wel se boyes bete,
850And ribbes in here sides breke,
851And Hauelok on hem wel wreke.
852He broken armes, he broken knes,
853He broken shankes, he broken thes,
854He dide þe blod þere renne dune
855To þe fet rith fro þe crune,
856For was þer spared heued non.
857He leyden on heuedes ful god won,
858And made croune breke and crake
859Of þe broune and of þe blake.

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860He maden here backes al so bloute
861Als here wombes and made hem rowte
862Als he weren kradel-barnes,
863So dos þe child þat moder þarnes.

865Daþeit þe recke! for he it seruede.
866Hwat dide he þore? weren he werewed!
867So longe haueden he but and bet,
868With neues under hernes set,
869Þat of þo sixti men and on
870Ne wente þer awey liues non.

872On þe morwen, hwan it was day,
873Jlc on oþer wirwed lay
874Als it were dogges þat weren henged,
875And summe leye in dikes slenget,
876And summe in gripes bi þe her
877Drawen ware and laten þer.
878Sket cam tiding intil Ubbe
879Þat Hauelok hauede with a clubbe
880Of hise slawen sixti and on -
881Sergaunz, þe beste þat mithen gon.
882'Deus!''Deus!' quoth Ubbe, 'hwat may þis be?
883Betere his I nime miself and se
884Þat þis baret on hwat is wold
885Þanne I sende yunge or old;
886For yif I sende him unto,
887J wene men sholde him shame do,
888And þat ne wolde Ich for no þing.
889J loue him wel, bi heueneking -
890Me wore leuere I wore lame
891Þanne men dide him ani shame,
892Or tok or onne handes leyde
893Vnornelike, or shame seyde.'
894He lep up on a stede lith,
895And with him mani a noble knith,
896And ferde forth unto þe tun,
897And dide calle Bernard Brun
898Vt of his hus, hwan he þer cam;

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899And Bernard sone ageyn-nam,
900Al to-tused and al to-torn,
901Ner al so naked so he was born,
902And al to-brised bac and þe.
903Quoth Ubbe, 'Bernard, hwat is þe?
904Hwo haues þe þus ille maked,
905Þus to-riuen, and al mad naked?'

907'Louerd, merci!' quot he sone,
908'Tonicht, al so ros þe mone,
909Comen her mo þan sixti þeues
910With lokene copes and wide sleues,
911Me for to robben and to pine,
912And for to drepe me and mine.
913Mi dore he broken up ful sket,
914And wolde me binden hond and fet.
915Wan þe godemen þat sawe
916(Hauelok and he þat bi þe wowe
917Leye), he stirten up sone onon,
918And summe grop tre, and sum grop ston,
919And driue hem ut, þei he weren crus,
920So dogges ut of milne-hous.
921Hauelok grop þe dore-tre,
922And at a dint he slow hem þre.
923He is þe beste man at nede
924Þat eueremar shal ride stede -
925Als helpe God, bi mine wone
926A þhousend of men his he worth one!
927Yif he ne were Ich were nou ded -
928So haue Ich don mi soule red!
929But it is of him mikel sinne:
930He maden him swilke woundes þrinne
931Þat of þe alþerleste wounde
932Were a stede brouht to grunde.
933He haues a wunde in þe side
934With a gleyue, ful unride;
935And he haues on þoru his arum
936(Þer-of is ful mikel harum);
937And he haues on þoru his þhe -

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938Þe vnrideste þat men may se.
939And oþer wundes haues he stronge,
940Mo þan twenti, swiþe longe.
941But siþen he hauede lauth þe sor
942Of þe wundes, was neuere bor
943Þat so fauth so he fauth þanne!
944Was non þat hauede þe hernpanne
945So hard þat he ne dede al to-cruhsse,
946And al to-shiuere, and al to-frusshe.
947He folwede hem so hund dos hare!
948Daþeyt on he wolde spare,
949Þat ne made hem euerilkon
950Ligge stille so doth þe ston.
951And þer nis he nouth to frie,
952For oþer sholde he make hem lye
953Ded, or þei him hauede slawen,
954Or al to-heuen or al to-drawen.

956Louerd, haui nomore plith
957Of þat Ich was þus greþed tonith.
958Þus wolde þe þeues me haue reft;
959But, God þank, he hauenet sure keft!
960But it is of him mikel scaþe -
961J woth þat he bes ded ful raþe.'

963Quoth Ubbe: 'Bernard, seyst þou soth?'
964'Ya, sire, that I ne leye oth!
965Yif Y, louerd, a word leye,
966Tomorwen do me hengen heye!'
967Þe burgeys þat þer-bi stode þore
968Grundlike and grete oþes swore,
969Litle and mikle, yunge and holde,
970Þat was soth þat Bernard tolde -
971Soth was þat he wolden him bynde,
972And trusse al þat he mithen fynde
973Of hise in arke or in kiste,
974Þat he mouthe in seckes þriste.
975'Louerd, he haueden al awey born
976His þing, and himself al to-torn,

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977But als God self barw him wel
978Þat he ne tinte no catel.
979Hwo mithe so mani stonde ageyn,
980Bi nither-tale, knith or swein?
981He weren bi tale sixti and ten -
982Starke laddes, stalworþi men,
983And on þe mayster of hem alle,
984Þat was þe name Griffin Galle.
985Hwo mouthe ageyn so mani stonde,
986But als þis man of ferne londe
987Haueth hem slawen with a tre?
988Mikel ioie haue he!
989God yeue him mikel god to welde,
990Boþe in tun and ek in felde:
991Wel is set he etes mete!'
992Quoth Ubbe 'Doth him swiþe fete,
993Þat Y mouthe his woundes se,
994Yf þat he mouthen holed be;
995For yf he mouthe couere yet
996And gangen wel upon hise fet,
997Miself shal dubbe him to knith,
998Forþi þat he is so with.
999And yif he liuede, þo foule þeues
1000(Þat weren of Kaymes kin and Eues),
1001He sholden hange bi þe necke -
1002Of here ded daþeit wo recke,
1003Hwan he yeden þus on nithes
1004Tobinde boþe burgmen and knithes!
1005For bynderes loue Ich neueremo -
1006Of hem ne yeue Ich nouht a slo!'

1008Hauelok was bifore Ubbe browth,
1009Þat hauede for him ful mikel þouth
1010And mikel sorwe in his herte,
1011For hise wundes þat were so smerte.

1013But hwan his wundes weren shawed,
1014And a leche hauede knawed
1015Þat he hem mouthe ful wel hele,

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1016Wel make him gange and ful wel mele,
1017And wel a palefrey bistride,
1018And wel upon a stede ride,
1019Þo let Ubbe al his care
1020And al his sorwe ouer-fare,
1021And seyde, 'Cum now forth with me,
1022And Goldeboru þi wif with þe,
1023And þine seriaunz alle þre!
1024For nou wile Y youre warant be:
1025Wile Y non of here frend
1026Þat þu slowe with þin hend
1027Mouthe wayte þe to slo
1028Al so þou gange to and fro.
1029J shal lene þe a bowr
1030Þat is up in þe heye tour,
1031Til þou mowe ful wel go
1032And wel ben hol of al þi wo.
1033Jt ne shal noþing ben bitwene
1034Þi bour and min, al so Y wene,
1035But a fayr firrene wowe -
1036Speke Y loude or spek Y lowe,
1037Þou shalt ful wel heren me,
1038And þan þu wilt þou shalt me se.
1039A rof shal hile us boþe o nith,
1040Þat none of mine, clerk ne knith,
1041Ne sholen þi wif no shame bede
1042No more þan min, so God me rede!'

1044He dide unto þe borw bringe
1045Sone anon, al with ioiinge,
1046His wif and his serganz þre
1047(Þe beste men þat mouthe be!).
1048Þe firste nith he lay þer-inne,
1049Hise wif and his serganz þrinne,
1050Aboute þe middel of þe nith
1051Wok Ubbe and saw a mikel lith
1052Jn þe bour þar Hauelok lay,
1053Al so brith so it were day.

1055'Deus!''Deus!' quoth Ubbe, 'hwat may þis be?
1056Betere is I go miself and se
1057Hweþer he sitten nou and wesseylen,
1058Or of ani shotshipe to-deyle
1059Þis tid nithes also foles;
1060Þan birþe men casten hem in poles,
1061Or in a grip, or in þe fen -
1062Nou ne sitten none but wicke men,
1063Glotuns, reures, or wicke þeues,
1064Bi Crist þat alle folk onne leues!'

1066He stod and totede in at a bord
1067Her he spak anilepi word,
1068And saw hem slepen faste ilkon,
1069And lye stille so þe ston,
1070And saw al þat mikel lith
1071Fro Hauelok cam þat was so brith.
1072Of his mouth it com il del -
1073Þat was he war ful swiþe wel.
1074'Deus!''Deus!' quoth he, 'hwat may þis mene?'
1075He calde boþe arwe men and kene,
1076Knithes and serganz swiþe sleie,
1077Mo EDITION: Mpo þan an hundred, withuten leye,
1078And bad hem alle comen and se
1079Hwat þat selcuth mithe be.

1080Hwan he haueden alle þe king gret,
1081And he weren alle dun-set,
1082Þo seyde Ubbe 'Lokes here
1083Vre louerd swiþe dere,
1084Þat shal ben king of al þe lond
1085And haue us alle under hond,
1086For he is Birkabeynes sone -
1087Þe king þat was vmbe stounde wone
1088Us for to yeme and wel were
1089Wit sharp swerd and longe spere.
1090Lokes nou hw he is fayr:
1091Sikerlike he is hise eyr.
1092Falles alle to hise fet -
1093Bicomes hise men ful sket!'
1094He weren for Ubbe swiþe adrad,
1095And dide sone al þat he bad.
1096And yet deden he sumdel more:
1097O bok ful grundlike he swore
1098Þat he sholde with him halde,
1099Boþe ageynes stille and bolde
1100Þat euere wolde his bodi dere.
1101Þat dide hem o boke swere.

1103Hwan he hauede manrede and oth
1104Taken of lef and of loth,
1105Vbbe dubbede him to knith

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1106With a swerd ful swiþe brith,
1107And þe folk of al þe lond
1108Bitauhte him al in his hond,
1109Þe cunnriche eueril del,
1110And made him king heylike and wel.
1111Hwan he was king, þer mouthe men se
1112Þe moste ioie þat mouhte be -
1113Buttinge with sharpe speres,
1114Skirming with taleuaces þat men beres,
1115Wrastling with laddes, putting of ston,
1116Harping and piping ful god won,
1117Leyk of mine, of hasard ok,
1118Romanz-reding on þe bok.
1119Þer mouthe men here þe gestes singe,
1120Þe glevmen on þe tabour dinge;
1121Þer mouhte men se þe boles beyte
1122And þe bores, with hundes teyte;
1123Þo mouthe men se eueril gleu;
1124Þer mouthe men se hw grim greu -
1125Was neuere yete ioie more
1126Jn al þius werd þan þo was þore.
1127Þer was so mike yeft of cloþes
1128Þat, þou I swore you grete othes,
1129J ne wore nouth þer-offe trod .
1130Þat may I ful wel swere, bi God:
1131Þere was swiþe gode metes,
1132And of wyn þat men fer fetes
1133Rith al so mik and gret plente
1134So it were water of þe se.
1135Þe feste fourti dawes sat -
1136So riche was neuere non so þat!
1137Þe king made Roberd þere knith,
1138Þat was ful strong and ful with,
1139And Willam Wendut hec, his broþer,
1140And Huwe Rauen, þat was þat oþer,
1141And made hem barouns alle þre,
1142And yaf hem lond and oþer fe,
1143So mikel þat ilker twenti knihtes
1144Hauede of genge, dayes and nithes.

1146Hwan þat feste was al don,
1147A thusand knihtes wel o-bon
1148With-held þe king with him to lede,
1149Þat ilkan hauede ful god stede,
1150Helm, and sheld, and brinie brith,
1151And al þe wepne þat fel to knith.
1152With hem fiue thusand gode
1153Sergaunz þat weren to fyht wode
1154With-held he al of his genge -
1155Wile I namore þe storie lenge.
1156Yet hwan he hauede of al þe lond
1157Þe casteles alle in his hond,
1158And conestables don þer-inne,
1159He swor he ne sholde neuer blinne
1160Til þat he were of Godard wreken,
1161Þat Ich haue of ofte speken.
1162Half hundred knithes dede he calle,
1163And hise fif thusand sergaunz alle,
1164And dide sweren on þe bok
1165Sone, and on þe auter ok,
1166Þat he ne sholde neuere blinne,
1167Ne for loue ne for sinne,
1168Til þat he haueden Godard funde
1169And brouth biforn him faste bunde.

1171Þanne he haueden swor þis oth,
1172Ne leten he nouth, for lef ne loth,
1173Þat he ne foren swiþe rathe
1174Þer he was, unto þe paþe
1175Þer he yet on hunting for,
1176With mikel genge and swiþe stor.
1177Robert, þat was of al þe ferd
1178Mayster, was girt wit a swerd,
1179And sat upon a ful god stede
1180Þat vnder him rith wolde wede.
1181He was þe firste þat with Godard
1182Spak, and seyde, 'Hede, cauenard!
1183Wat dos þu here at þis paþe?
1184Cum to þe king swiþe and raþe!
1185Þat sendes he þe word and bedes,

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1186Þat þu þenke hwat þu him dedes
1187Hwan þu reftes with a knif
1188Hise sistres here lif,
1189An siþen bede þu in þe se
1190Drenchen him; þat herde he -
1191He is to þe swiþe grim!
1192Cum nu swiþe unto him,
1193Þat king is of þis kuneriche,
1194Þu fule man, þu wicke swike,
1195And he shal yelde þe þi mede,
1196Bi Crist þat wolde on rode blede!'

1198Hwan Godard herde þat he þer þrette,
1199With þe neue he Robert sette
1200Biforn þe teth a dint ful strong,
1201And Robert kipt ut a knif long,
1202And smot him þoru þe rith arum -
1203Þer-of was ful litel harum!

1205Hwan his folk þat sau and herde,
1206Hwou Robert with here louerd ferde,
1207He haueden him wel-ner browt of liue,
1208Ne were his two breþren and oþre fiue
1209Slowen of here laddes ten
1210Of Godardes alþerbeste men.
1211Hwan þe oþre sawen þat, he fledden,
1212And Godard swiþe loude gredde:
1213'Mine knithes, hwat do ye?
1214Sule ye þus-gate fro me fle?
1215Jch haue you fed and yet shal fede -
1216Helpe me nu in þis nede,
1217And late ye nouth mi bodi spille,
1218Ne Hauelok don of me hise wille!
1219Yif ye it do, ye do you shame
1220And bringeth youself in mikel blame!'
1221Hwan he þat herden, he wenten ageyn,
1222And slowen a knit and a sweyn

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1223Of þe kinges oune men,
1224And woundeden abuten ten.

1226Þe kinges men, hwan he þat sawe,
1227Scuten on hem, heye and lowe,
1228And euerilk fot of hem slowe,
1229But Godard one, þat he flowe,
1230So þe þef men dos henge,
1231Or hund men sholen in dike slenge.
1232He bunden him ful swiþe faste
1233Hwil þe bondes wolden laste,
1234Þat he rorede als a bole
1235Þat wore parred in an hole
1236With dogges for to bite and beite.
1237Were þe bondes nouth to leite -
1238He bounden him so fele sore
1239Þat he gan crien Godes ore,
1240Þat he sholde of his hend plette;
1241Wolden he nouht þer-fore lette
1242Þat he ne bounden hond and fet.
1243Daþeit þat on þat þer-fore let,
1244But dunten him so man doth bere,
1245And keste him on a scabbed mere,
1246Hise nese went un-to þe crice:
1247So ledden he þat ful swike
1248Til he was biforn Hauelok brouth,
1249Þat he hauede ful wo wrowht,
1250Boþe with hungre and with cold.
1251Or he were twelue winter old,
1252And with mani heui swink,
1253With poure mete and feble drink,
1254And wiþ swiþe wikke cloþes,
1255For al hise manie grete othes.
1256Nu beyes he his holde blame:
1257Old sinne makes newe shame!
1258Wan he was brouth so shamelike
1259Biforn þe king (þe fule swike!)

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1260Þe king dede Ubbe swiþe calle
1261Hise erles and hise barouns alle,
1262Dreng and thein, burgeis and knith,
1263And bad he sholden demen him rith,
1264For he kneu þe swikedam;
1265Eueril del God was him gram!
1266He setten hem dun bi þe wawe,
1267Riche and pouere, heye and lowe,
1268Þe helde men and ek þe grom,
1269And made þer þe rithe dom,
1270And seyden unto þe king anon,
1271Þat stille sat so þe ston:
1272'We deme þat he be al quic flawen,
1273And siþen to þe galwes drawe
1274At þis foule mere tayl,
1275Þoru is fet a ful strong nayl,
1276And þore ben henged wit two feteres;
1277And þare be writen þise leteres:
1278"Þis is þe swike þat wende wel
1279Þe king haue reft þe lond il del,
1280And hise sistres with a knif
1281Boþe refte here lif" -
1282Þis writ shal henge bi him þare.
1283Þe dom is demd seye we namore.'

1285Hwan þe dom was demd and giue,
1286And he was wit þe prestes shriue,
1287And it ne mouhte ben non oþer,
1288Ne for fader ne for broþer,
1289But þat he sholde þarne lif,
1290Sket cam a ladde with a knif
1291And bigan rith at þe to
1292For to ritte and for to flo;
1293And he bigan for to rore
1294So it were grim or gore,
1295Þat men mithe þeþen a mile
1296Here him rore, þat fule file!
1297Þe ladde ne let nowith forþi,

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1298Þey he criede 'merci! merci!'
1299Þat ne flow him eueril del
1300With knif mad of grunden stel.
1301Þei garte bringe þe mere sone,
1302Skabbed and ful iuele o-bone,
1303And bunden him rith at hire tayl
1304With a rop of an old seyl,
1305And drowen him unto þe galwes
1306(Nouth bi þe gate but ouer þe falwes),
1307And henge þore bi þe hals -
1308Daþeit hwo recke: he was fals!

1310Þanne he was ded, þat Sathanas,
1311Sket was seysed al þat his was
1312Jn þe kinges hand il del -
1313Lond and lith, and oþer catel -
1314And þe king ful sone it yaf
1315Vbbe in þe hond, wit a fayr staf,
1316And seyde 'Her Ich sayse þe,
1317Jn al þe lond, in al þe fe.'
1318Þo swor Hauelok he sholde make,
1319Al for Grim, of monekes blake
1320A priorie to seruen inne ay
1321Jesu Crist til Domesday,
1322For þe god he hauede him don
1323Hwil he was pouere and iuel o-bon.
1324And þer-of held he wel his oth,
1325For he it made, God it woth,
1326Jn þe tun þer Grim was grauen,
1327Þat of Grim yet haues þe nauen -
1328Of Grim bidde Ich namore spelle.
1329But wan Godrich herde telle,
1330Of Cornwayle þat was erl
1331(Þat fule traytour, that mixed cherl!)
1332Þat Hauelok, was king of Denemark,
1333And ferde with him, strong and stark,
1334Comen Engelond with-inne,
1335Engelond al for to winne,

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1336And þat she þat was so fayr,
1337Þat was of Engelond rith eir,
1338Was comen up at Grimesbi,
1339He was ful sorful and sori,
1340And seyde 'Hwat shal me to raþe?
1341Goddoth I shal do slon hem baþe!
1342J shal don hengen hem ful heye,
1343So mote Ich brouke mi rith eie,
1344But yif he of mi lond fle.
1345Hwat! wenden he to deserite me?'
1346He dide sone ferd ut-bede ,
1347Þat al þat euere mouhte o stede
1348Ride or helm on heued bere,
1349Brini on bac, and sheld and spere
1350Or ani oþer wepne bere,
1351Hand-ax, syþe, gisarm, or spere,
1352Or aunlaz and god long knif,
1353Þat als he louede leme or lif
1354Þat þey sholden comen him to,
1355'With ful god wepne ye bere ', so
1356To Lincolne, þer he lay,
1357Of Marz þe seuentenþe day,
1358So þat he couþe hem god þank.
1359And yif þat ani were so rank
1360Þat he þanne ne come anan,
1361He swor bi Crist and Seint Johan
1362That he sholde maken him þral,
1363And al his ofspring forthwithal.

1365Þe Englishe þat herde þat
1366Was non þat euere his bode sat,
1367For he him dredde swiþe sore,
1368So runci spore, and mikle more.
1369At þe day he come sone
1370Þat he hem sette, ful wel o-bone,
1371To Lincolne with gode stedes
1372And al þe wepne þat knith ledes.

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1373Hwan he wore come, sket was þe erl yare
1374Ageynes Denshe men to fare,
1375And seyde 'Lyþes nu, alle samen!
1376Haue Ich gadred you for no gamen,
1377But Ich wile seyen you forwi.
1378Lokes hware here at Grimesbi
1379His uten-laddes here comen,
1380And haues nu þe priorie numen -
1381Al þat euere mithen he finde,
1382He brenne kirkes and prestes binde;
1383He strangleth monkes and nunnes baþe.
1384Wat wile ye, frend, her-offe raþe?
1385Yif he regne þus-gate longe,
1386He moun us alle ouer-gange -
1387He moun vs alle quic henge or slo,
1388Or þral maken and do ful wo,
1389Or elles reue us ure liues
1390And ure children and ure wiues.
1391But dos nu als Ich wile you lere,
1392Als ye wile be with me dere:
1393Nimes nu swiþe forth and raþe,
1394And helpes me and yuself baþe,
1395And slos upo þe dogges swiþe!
1396For I shal neueremore be bliþe,
1397Ne hoseled ben ne of prest shriuen,
1398Til þat he ben of londe driuen.
1399Nime we swiþe and do hem fle,
1400And folwes alle faste me!
1401For Ich am he, of al þe ferd,
1402Þat first shal slo with drawen swerd -
1403Daþeyt hwo ne stonde faste
1404Bi me hwil hise armes laste!'
1405'Ye, lef, ye!' quoth þe erl Gunter;
1406'Ya!' qouth þe erl of Cestre, Reyner.
1407And so dide alle þat þer stode,
1408And stirte forth so he were wode.
1409Þo mouthe men se þe brinies brihte

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1410On backes keste and lace rithe,
1411Þe helmes heye on heued sette.
1412To armes al so swiþe plette
1413Þat þei wore on a litel stunde
1414Greþet als men mithe telle a pund,
1415And lopen on stedes sone anon;
1416And toward Grimesbi, ful god won,
1417He foren softe bi þe sti,
1418Til he come ney at Grimesbi.

1420Hauelok, þat hauede spired wel
1421Of here fare eueril del,
1422With al his ferd cam hem ageyn.
1423Forbar he noþer knith ne sweyn:
1424Þe firste knith þat he þer mette
1425With þe swerd so he him grette,
1426Forþ his heued of he plette -
1427Wolde he nouth for sinne lette.
1428Roberd saw þat dint so hende -
1429Wolde he neuere þeþen wende
1430Til þat he hauede anoþer slawen
1431With þe swerd he held ut-drawen.
1432Willam Wendut his swerd vt-drow,
1433And þe þredde so sore he slow
1434Þat he made upon þe feld
1435His lift arm fleye with the swerd.

1437Huwe Rauen ne forgat nouth
1438Þe swerd he hauede þider brouth:
1439He kipte it up, and smot ful sore
1440An erl þat he saw priken þore
1441Ful noblelike upon a stede
1442Þat with him wolde al quic wede.
1443He smot him on þe heued so
1444Þat he þe heued clef a two,
1445And þat bi þe shuldre-blade
1446Þe sharpe swerd he let wade
1447Þorw the brest unto þe herte.
1448Þe dint bigan ful sore to smerte,

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1449Þat þe erl fel dun anon
1450Al so ded so ani ston.
1451Quoth Ubbe 'Nu dwelle Ich to longe!'
1452And leth his stede sone gonge
1453To Godrich, with a god spere
1454Þat he saw anoþer bere,
1455And smoth Godrich and Godrich him
1456Hetelike with herte grim,
1457So þat he boþe felle dune
1458To þe erþe, first þe croune.
1459Þanne he woren fallen dun boþen,
1460Grundlike here swerdes ut-drowen
1461Þat weren swiþe sharp and gode,
1462And fouhten so þei woren wode,
1463Þat þe swot ran fro þe crune
1464NO GAP IN MS . . . . . . . .
1465Þer mouthe men se two knicthes bete
1466Ayþer on oþer dintes grete,
1467So þat with þalþerlest dint
1468Were al to-shiuered a flint.
1469So was bitwenen hem a fiht,
1470Fro þe morwen ner to þe niht,
1471So þat þei nouth ne blunne
1472Til þat to sette bigan þe sunne.
1473Þo yaf Godrich þorw þe side
1474Vbbe a wunde ful unride,
1475So þat þorw þat ilke wounde
1476Hauede ben brouth to þe grunde
1477And his heued al of-slawen,
1478Yif God ne were and Huwe Rauen,
1479Þat drow him fro Godrich awey
1480And barw him so þat ilke day.
1481But er he were fro Godrich drawen,
1482Þer were a þousind knihtes slawen
1483Bi boþe halue and mo ynowe.
1484Þer þe ferdes togidere slowe,
1485Þer was swilk dreping of þe folk
1486Þat on þe feld was neuere a polk

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1487Þat it ne stod of blod so ful
1488Þat þe stem ranintil þe hul.
1489Þo tarst bigan Godrich to go
1490Vpon þe Danshe and faste to slo,
1491And forthrith, also leun fares
1492Þat neuere kines best ne spares,
1493Þanne his gon, for he garte alle
1494Þe Denshe men biforn him falle.
1495He felde browne, he felde blake,
1496Þat he mouthe ouertake.
1497Was neuere non þat mouhte þaue
1498Hise dintes, noyþer knith ne knaue,
1499Þat he feldem so dos þe gres
1500Biforn þe syþe þat ful sharp es.
1501Hwan Hauelok saw his folk so brittene
1502And his ferd so swiþe littene,
1503He cam driuende upon a stede,
1504And bigan til him to grede,
1505And seyde 'Godrich, wat is þe,
1506Þat þou fare þus with me
1507And mine gode knihtes slos?
1508Sikerlike, þou misgos!
1509Þou wost ful wel, yif þu wilt wite,
1510Þat Aþelwold þe dide site
1511On knes and sweren on messe-bok,
1512On caliz and on pateyn hok,
1513Þat þou hise douhter sholdest yelde,
1514Þan she were wimman of elde,
1515Engelond eueril del.
1516Godrich þe erl, þou wost it wel!
1517Do nu wel withuten fiht
1518Yeld hire þe lond, for þat is rith:
1519Wile Ich forgiue þe þe lathe,
1520Al mi dede and al mi wrathe,
1521For Y se þu art so with
1522And of þi bodi so god knith.'
1523'Þat ne wile Ich neueremo',
1524Quoth erl Godrich, 'for Ich shal slo

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1525Þe, and hire forhenge heye!
1526J shal þrist ut þi rith eye,
1527Þat þou lokes with on me,
1528But þu swiþe heþen fle!'
1529He grop þe swerd ut sone anon,
1530And hew on Hauelok ful god won,
1531So þat he clef his sheld on two.
1532Hwan Hauelok saw þat shame do
1533His bodi þer biforn his ferd,
1534He drow ut sone his gode swerd,
1535And smot him so upon þe crune
1536Þat Godrich fel to þe erþe adune.
1537But Godrich stirt up swiþe sket -
1538Lay he nowth longe at hise fet -
1539And smot him on þe sholdre so
1540Þat he dide þare undo
1541Of his brinie ringes mo
1542Þan þat Ich kan tellen fro,
1543And woundede him rith in þe flesh,
1544Þat tendre was and swiþe nesh,
1545So þat þe blod ran til his to.
1546Þo was Hauelok swiþe wo,
1547Þat he hauede of him drawen
1548Blod and so sore him slawen.
1549Hertelike til him he wente
1550And Godrich þer fulike shente,
1551For his swerd he hof up heye,
1552And þe hand he dide of-fleye
1553Þat he smot him with so sore -
1554Hw mithe he don him shame more?

1556Hwan he hauede him so shamed,
1557His hand of-plat and yuele lamed,
1558He tok him sone bi þe necke
1559Als a traytour (daþeyt wo recke!),
1560And dide him binde and fetere wel
1561With gode feteres al of stel,
1562And to þe quen he sende him,

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1563Þat birde wel to him ben grim,
1564And bad she sholde don him gete,
1565And þat non ne sholde him bete
1566Ne shame do, for he was knith,
1567Til knithes haueden demd him rith.
1568Þan þe Englishe men þat sawe,
1569Þat þei wisten, heye and lawe,
1570Þat Goldeboru þat was so fayr
1571Was of Engeland rith eyr,
1572And þat þe king hire hauede wedded,
1573And haueden ben samen bedded,
1574He comen alle to crie 'merci',
1575Vnto þe king at one cri,
1576And beden him sone manrede and oth
1577Þat he ne sholden, for lef ne loth,
1578Neueremore ageyn him go
1579Ne ride, for wele ne for wo.

1581Þe king ne wolde nouth forsake
1582Þat he ne shulde of hem take
1583Manrede þat he beden and ok
1584Hold-oþes sweren on þe bok.
1585But or bad he þat þider were brouth
1586Þe quen for hem (swilk was his þouth)
1587For to se and forto shawe
1588Yif þat he hire wolde knawe.
1589Þoruth hem witen wolde he
1590Yif þat she aucte quen to be.

1592Sixe erles weren sone yare
1593After hire for to fare:
1594He nomen onon and comen sone,
1595And brouthen hire, þat under mone
1596Jn al þe werd ne hauede per
1597Of hendeleik, fer ne ner.
1598Hwan she was come þider, alle
1599Þe Englishe men bigunne to falle
1600O knes, and greten swiþe sore,
1601And seyden 'Leuedi, Kristes ore

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1602And youres! We hauen misdo mikel,
1603Þat we ayen you haue be fikel,
1604For Englond auhte for to ben
1605Youres, and we youre men.
1606Js non of us, yung ne old,
1607Þat he ne wot þat Aþelwold
1608Was king of þis kunerike
1609And ye his eyr, and þat þe swike
1610Haues it halden with mikel wronge -
1611God leue him sone to honge!'

1613Quot Hauelok 'Hwan þat ye it wite,
1614Nu wile Ich þat ye doun-site;
1615And after Godrich haues wrouht,
1616Þat haues in sorwe himself brouth,
1617Lokes þat ye demen him rith
1618(For dom ne spareð clerk ne knith),
1619And siþen shal Ich understonde
1620Of you, after lawe of londe,
1621Manrede and holde-oþes boþe,
1622Yif ye it wilen and ek rothe.'
1623Anon þer dune he hem sette,
1624For non þe dom ne durste lette,
1625And demden him to binden faste
1626Vpon an asse swiþe unwraste,
1627(Andelong, nouht ouerþwert,
1628His nose went unto þe stert)
1629And so to Lincolne lede,
1630Shamelike in wicke wede;
1631And, hwan he cam unto þe borw,
1632Shamelike ben led þer-þoru,
1633Bi-souþe þe borw unto a grene
1634Þat þare is yet, als Y wene,
1635And þere be bunden til a stake,
1636Abouten him ful gret fir make,
1637And al to dust be brend rith þere.
1638And yet demden he þer more,

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1639Oþer swikes for to warne:
1640Þat hise children shulde þarne
1641Eueremore þat eritage
1642Þat his was, for hise utrage.

1644Hwan þe dom was demd and seyd,
1645Sket was þe swike on þe asse leyd,
1646And led huntil þat ilke grene
1647And brend til asken, al bidene.
1648Þo was Goldeboru ful bliþe -
1649She þanked God fele syþe
1650Þat þe fule swike was brend
1651Þat wende wel hire bodi haue shend,
1652And seyde 'Nu is time to take
1653Manrede of brune and of blake
1654Þat Ich se ride and go,
1655Nu Ich am wreke of mi fo!'

1657Hauelok anon manrede tok
1658Of alle Englishe on þe bok,
1659And dide hem grete oþes swere
1660Þat he sholden him god feyth bere,
1661Ageyn alle þat woren liues
1662And þat sholde ben born of wiues.